International Sustainability Conference At Academy of Natural Sciences
Climate change, economic development, and energy security are the defining issues of our time, and success in addressing them depends upon the ability of China and the US to cooperate in the rapid, large-scale implementation of the best sustainability practices. In order to promote this cooperation, the Philadelphia Global Sustainability Association of Business Students, the City of Philadelphia, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, and the Asia Center and the Center for Environmental Policy at the Academy of Natural Sciences are hosting the Philadelphia International Sustainability Conference, “Leading Change: Sustainability and the Future of Business, Technology, Policy, and the Environment in China and the US.”
The event will take place on Tuesday, 12/15/09 at the Academy of Natural Sciences (19th St and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
The conference will showcase cutting-edge Chinese and American sustainability efforts, featuring experts from the City of Hebi and Henan Province, China and from the City of Philadelphia. Henan, the largest Chinese province by population (over 99 million and growing), is leading the charge for a “cyclical economy” on the provincial level, and Hebi (in Henan) is one of the model Chinese cities that was selected for the development of sustainable practices as part of a national pilot program begun in 2006.
Likewise, Philadelphia’s Greenworks program is among the most ambitious U.S. urban sustainability plans. In addition to the Hebi, Henan, and City of Philadelphia experts, pioneering business and non-profit leaders from the Philadelphia area will discuss their innovative green projects.
Among the Chinese delegation will be Assistant Governor Dong-Cheng He and other officials from Henan Province and Deputy Mayor Xin-Yong Liu and representatives from the following companies: Henan Dongda High Temperature Energy-Saving Material Co., Ltd.; Hebi Anli-Huanyan Tire Co., Ltd.; Hebi Baiyunjia Printing Co., Ltd.; Henan Xinyang Estate Co., Ltd., and Henan Yongchang Feitian Starch Sugar Co., Ltd. American speakers will include Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Commerce, Economic Development and Planning; Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability for the City of Philadelphia; Natalia Olson-Urtecho, CEO of The Ecolibrium Group and Charlie Szoradi, Founder and President of GREENandSAVE.
In addition to the City of Philadelphia, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, our sponsors include the architecture and design firm H2L2, GREENandSAVE, the Ecolibrium Group, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, and Blank Rome LLP.
The Philadelphia International Sustainability Conference will provide a forum for the fruitful exchange of ideas to help meet the economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Agenda:
8:30 Registration
9:00 Opening remarks by Philadelphia International Sustainability Association of Business Students and City of Philadelphia representatives
9:10 Featured Speaker: Dong-Cheng He, the Assistant of Provincial Governor of Henan
9:30 Keynote Speaker: Xin-Yong Liu, Deputy Mayor of Hebi
9:50 Chinese Panel: Hebi Company Representatives
10:40 Break
10:50 Keynote Speaker: Katherine Gajewski, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
11:10 Featured Speaker: Natalia Olson-Urtecho, CEO, the Ecolibrium Group
11:30 U.S. Panel – Business Leaders of the Greater Philadelphia Region
12:30 Closing Remarks
